Numbers and Dark Shadows - The Interp Store
By Sarie Fischer Norval
Prissy Thomas
Traumatic experiences can often play tricks on one’s psyche. Prissy Thomas is a short, dramatic play; therefore, it should be entered in Dramatic Interpretation and performed by a female. While there are four characters listed in the play, there are, in fact, only three characters. Prissy/Thomas is a six-year-old child that appears to be a little boy named Thomas; however, at the end of the play, it is revealed that the character is actually a little girl named Prissy, who speaks as Thomas in order to cope with an unforeseen tragedy. Prissy/Thomas should be portrayed as a small child—with childlike expressions and, when appropriate, the comic timing that accompanies childhood innocence. Peggy is a compassionate mother, and she is fiercely protective of her daughter, Prissy. Peggy should be portrayed maturely—not matronly. Principal Cox is an older man, and if desired, he may be portrayed overly-stodgy. Play the moments for honesty. There are a few places where pantomime might be used—i.e. driving the car and talking on the phone. Remember, when adding pantomime to any performance, always go for realism. A clenched fist can not hold a steering wheel, nor can a closed fist hold a telephone. Realistic pantomime—not charades—has the ability to add a touch of sophistication and technical difficulty to your performance. There are shifts in time and location throughout this play; therefore, make these transitions clear to the audience. This is a wonderful tour-de-force for the right actress. The drama mask icons are visible to show the performer where a teaser could be placed, if so desired.
On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman, after killing his mother, then his wife the night before, walked onto the University of Texas campus with an arsenal of guns and ammunition. He then proceeded to the UT Tower, where he shot and killed 16 people and injured 33 others. Over an hour-and-a-half later, three Austin Police Officers stormed the UT Tower, killing Whitman, and ultimately, ending his senseless rampage. At the time, the UT Tower shootings marked the worst mass murder in US history. The impact of this tragedy forced stunned police departments across the nation to develop Special Weapons and Tactics Teams, which today are known simply as SWAT teams. In the following two poems, we pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives that day, and we still try to understand what pushes someone over the edge. These two poems should be entered in Poetry Interpreation. The drama mask icons simply serve as a suggestion to show the performer where to turn the page. The italicized stanzas in Dark Shadows are a fictitious re-enactment of Charles Whitman speaking from the tower. These lines should be performed with emotional levels and, at times, understated intensity. The two poems may be performed together as a poetic program, or Dark Shadows may be performed independently. Remember, this tragic incident is a part of American history, and many people lost their lives that day in 1966; therefore, please perform these poems with honesty and respect.
Numbers and Dark Shadows
NOTES
By Richard Callahan
NOTES
Numbers Characters: Prissy/Thomas, a six-year-old child Peggy, the mother Principal Cox Prissy/Thomas: Hello, my name is Thomas, and I’m six-years-old. My best friend’s name is Prissy. She hates it. There’s this boy at school. His name is Stephen Petersen. He smells like a pickle. That’s just gross! He makes fun of us for being friends. He says that “boys should never be friends with girls, especially ones named Prissy.” We just tell him to keep his big fat mouth shut or we’re gonna tell everyone his secret. (Smiling.) You wanna hear? Ok. (Whispering.) Stephen Petersen’s dad is (Intensely
OrangeBook_LAYOUT DB.indd 13
August 1, 1966. 1 man, Dozens of guns, And countless rounds of ammunition. 1 tower. 1 tower celebrating its 13th Anniversary. 1 tower, Standing 307 feet tall. 96 minutes. It took 96 minutes To end the lives of 16 innocent victims And wound 33 others.
11/17/2008 9:47:09 AM
By Richard Callahan
Numbers and Dark Shadows
1 name alone Will forever be remembered. Charles Joseph Whitman. 1 question will remain At the forefront of American minds. Why?
Happier, Raymond
Dear Batman
But most won’t remember The names of those killed.
who cares about her so much. Then he said he feels better knowing that I’ll be out there someday keeping the streets free from crime. The doctor gave me a prescription for some anti-depressants, and he said that in no time at all, I’ll be as good as new! When I got home, Mrs. Gonzales told me that a pretty girl came by and left a package for me. It was from Hannah—home-made chocolate chip cookies! Who knows? Maybe Alfred will have to make a new crime-fighting suit one day, after all. A suit monogrammed with a capital ‘H.’
By Jake Barton
3 Austin Police Officers Ended the tragedy That stunned a nation of millions,
Dark Shadows He looked down at his mother, Margaret. How still she lay. He placed the note on the bedside shelf, And noticed how the lamp behind him Cast a dark shadow on the opposite bedroom wall Making him look larger than life itself.
He drove home to his wife, Kathy. Sleeping, She looked so peaceful. This would be the last gift He would give her. Though it had no monetary value, His love for her far outweighed the duty he had to perform. He took the gun, caressed her temple, and pulled the trigger. No wife should have to live the rest of her life in shame.
The next morning, he walked onto the UT campus. His dark shadow followed him down the sidewalk And again, made him look larger than life. No one Noticed him as he carried his two overstuffed suitcases To the Tower. No one even noticed.
OrangeBook_LAYOUT DB.indd 14
11/17/2008 9:47:09 AM
Prissy Thomas
Traumatic experiences can often play tricks on one’s psyche. Prissy Thomas is a short, dramatic play; therefore, it should be entered in Dramatic Interpretation and performed by a female. While there are four characters listed in the play, there are, in fact, only three characters. Prissy/Thomas is a six-year-old child that appears to be a little boy named Thomas; however, at the end of the play, it is revealed that the character is actually a little girl named Prissy, who speaks as Thomas in order to cope with an unforeseen tragedy. Prissy/Thomas should be portrayed as a small child—with childlike expressions and, when appropriate, the comic timing that accompanies childhood innocence. Peggy is a compassionate mother, and she is fiercely protective of her daughter, Prissy. Peggy should be portrayed maturely—not matronly. Principal Cox is an older man, and if desired, he may be portrayed overly-stodgy. Play the moments for honesty. There are a few places where pantomime might be used—i.e. driving the car and talking on the phone. Remember, when adding pantomime to any performance, always go for realism. A clenched fist can not hold a steering wheel, nor can a closed fist hold a telephone. Realistic pantomime—not charades—has the ability to add a touch of sophistication and technical difficulty to your performance. There are shifts in time and location throughout this play; therefore, make these transitions clear to the audience. This is a wonderful tour-de-force for the right actress. The drama mask icons are visible to show the performer where a teaser could be placed, if so desired.
On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman, after killing his mother, then his wife the night before, walked onto the University of Texas campus with an arsenal of guns and ammunition. He then proceeded to the UT Tower, where he shot and killed 16 people and injured 33 others. Over an hour-and-a-half later, three Austin Police Officers stormed the UT Tower, killing Whitman, and ultimately, ending his senseless rampage. At the time, the UT Tower shootings marked the worst mass murder in US history. The impact of this tragedy forced stunned police departments across the nation to develop Special Weapons and Tactics Teams, which today are known simply as SWAT teams. In the following two poems, we pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives that day, and we still try to understand what pushes someone over the edge. These two poems should be entered in Poetry Interpreation. The drama mask icons simply serve as a suggestion to show the performer where to turn the page. The italicized stanzas in Dark Shadows are a fictitious re-enactment of Charles Whitman speaking from the tower. These lines should be performed with emotional levels and, at times, understated intensity. The two poems may be performed together as a poetic program, or Dark Shadows may be performed independently. Remember, this tragic incident is a part of American history, and many people lost their lives that day in 1966; therefore, please perform these poems with honesty and respect.
Numbers and Dark Shadows
NOTES
By Richard Callahan
NOTES
Numbers Characters: Prissy/Thomas, a six-year-old child Peggy, the mother Principal Cox Prissy/Thomas: Hello, my name is Thomas, and I’m six-years-old. My best friend’s name is Prissy. She hates it. There’s this boy at school. His name is Stephen Petersen. He smells like a pickle. That’s just gross! He makes fun of us for being friends. He says that “boys should never be friends with girls, especially ones named Prissy.” We just tell him to keep his big fat mouth shut or we’re gonna tell everyone his secret. (Smiling.) You wanna hear? Ok. (Whispering.) Stephen Petersen’s dad is (Intensely
OrangeBook_LAYOUT DB.indd 13
August 1, 1966. 1 man, Dozens of guns, And countless rounds of ammunition. 1 tower. 1 tower celebrating its 13th Anniversary. 1 tower, Standing 307 feet tall. 96 minutes. It took 96 minutes To end the lives of 16 innocent victims And wound 33 others.
11/17/2008 9:47:09 AM
By Richard Callahan
Numbers and Dark Shadows
1 name alone Will forever be remembered. Charles Joseph Whitman. 1 question will remain At the forefront of American minds. Why?
Happier, Raymond
Dear Batman
But most won’t remember The names of those killed.
who cares about her so much. Then he said he feels better knowing that I’ll be out there someday keeping the streets free from crime. The doctor gave me a prescription for some anti-depressants, and he said that in no time at all, I’ll be as good as new! When I got home, Mrs. Gonzales told me that a pretty girl came by and left a package for me. It was from Hannah—home-made chocolate chip cookies! Who knows? Maybe Alfred will have to make a new crime-fighting suit one day, after all. A suit monogrammed with a capital ‘H.’
By Jake Barton
3 Austin Police Officers Ended the tragedy That stunned a nation of millions,
Dark Shadows He looked down at his mother, Margaret. How still she lay. He placed the note on the bedside shelf, And noticed how the lamp behind him Cast a dark shadow on the opposite bedroom wall Making him look larger than life itself.
He drove home to his wife, Kathy. Sleeping, She looked so peaceful. This would be the last gift He would give her. Though it had no monetary value, His love for her far outweighed the duty he had to perform. He took the gun, caressed her temple, and pulled the trigger. No wife should have to live the rest of her life in shame.
The next morning, he walked onto the UT campus. His dark shadow followed him down the sidewalk And again, made him look larger than life. No one Noticed him as he carried his two overstuffed suitcases To the Tower. No one even noticed.
OrangeBook_LAYOUT DB.indd 14
11/17/2008 9:47:09 AM
